en.Wedoany.com Reported - Kandua, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Santam, has launched an AI-powered home assistant named Jess, designed to streamline home maintenance processes and enhance trust, transparency, and safety in South Africa's home services industry.

Jess is positioned as South Africa's first AI home assistant, guiding homeowners through the entire repair and maintenance process via a conversational interface. Users can describe home issues using the "Ask Jess" feature, and the system helps identify the root cause. For professional support, the platform's "Book a Job" feature connects users with vetted and trusted service providers.

Kandua CEO Vinolan Pillay stated that the platform integrates artificial intelligence, data, and cloud technology to create a personalized experience, replacing the previously fragmented booking process. Pillay noted that the team saw an opportunity to reimagine how homeowners access home services; Jess creates a personalized, contextually relevant experience, delivering better outcomes for homeowners while unlocking new value for service providers.

In addition to diagnosing issues, Jess can provide cost estimates, flag potential complexities, and offer support throughout the booking process, helping to reduce abandoned requests and support more informed decision-making.

The platform introduces a rigorous service provider vetting process. Before contractors join the marketplace, they must complete identity verification, criminal background checks, certification verification, and business registration checks. Kandua replaces the traditional pay-per-lead model with one-to-one job matching, ensuring service providers are only connected to work they are qualified to complete, thereby reducing wasted time and costs for both parties.

This launch follows Santam's acquisition of Kandua in 2024, part of Santam's strategy to accelerate digital innovation and strengthen support for small businesses and skilled service providers. Pillay stated that Jess's ultimate goal is to create a more trustworthy and efficient home services marketplace, while enabling homeowners to better protect, maintain, and improve their properties through AI-driven assistance.